History
of the RPC
In 1962 the Federal Aid Highway Act indicated
general funds for highway construction in urban areas might
be curtailed if the projects were not a part of a regional
plan. Discussions in 1963 among local official, business
leaders, community organizations and representatives began.
The result was enabling legislation for the formation of
the planning commission (September, 1963). This enabling
legislation confined commission powers to advisory functions
including planning and research for the region, planning
assistance as requested and application, acceptance and
use of grants and assistance from the federal government.
Jefferson County municipalities appointed
representatives to the commission in October, 1963. November
5, 1963, the Birmingham-Jefferson County Regional Planning
Commission was established as a result of the City Council
of Birmingham and Jefferson County Commission vote to designate
Jefferson County as a planning region. November 21 the rules
of procedure were adopted and the Executive Committee was
elected. The first regular meeting was held January 22,
1964.
The initial director was Robert (Bob) Juster,
appointed May, 1964 with a budget of $78,500. The first
office was on the 15th floor of the 2121 Building on Eighth
Avenue North. It was opened in July, 1964 and remained in
that location until 1973.
Thirty-one government units participated in
the Commission, 99.96% of the region. The committees consisted
of Budget and Finance and Personnel. By 1965, federal aid
to urban areas had produced a proliferation of urban programs.
The 1966 Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan Development
Act attempted to bring order to the chaos by requiring all
applications for Federal loans and grants from local agencies
to be submitted to an area-wide planning agency for review
and comment. In June, 1967, the Birmingham-Jefferson County
Regional Planning Commission was certified as the reviewing
agency. Initial members were just Jefferson County municipalities.
In March 1967 the Bureau of Census expanded the metropolitan
area to include Shelby and Walker counties. It was anticipated
Blount and St. Clair would be added following the 1970 Census.
So in 1968, discussions were initiated with surrounding
county officials to explore the possibility of a multi-county
planning organization. By April 24, 1969, the one county
Birmingham-Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission
became the five county commission including Jefferson, Shelby,
Walker, Blount and St. Clair counties.
In September, 1969, the role of the planning
commission expanded to include state planning and programming,
administering federal programs and project review and comment.
In July, 1970, Governor Brewer signed an executive order
subdividing the state into eight planning and development
districts. RPC was considered District Three with the inclusion
of Chilton County. The old BRPC was dissolved and a new
one under the same name was established January 28, 1971
which included Chilton County.
